Los Angeles Angels pitcher Joe Blanton, a former UK star, is 2-12 on the mound but 1-0 against the Gatorade cooler.

It has been a frustrating season for Joe Blanton, and it might be careening toward historic.

The Los Angeles Angels right-hander and former University of Kentucky pitcher is 2-12 with a 5.53 ERA. Blanton leads the majors in losses, and unless he's pulled from the rotation or the roster, he could join an infamous fraternity. There hasn't been a 20-game loser since Mike Maroth went 9-21 for the Detroit Tigers in 2003.

Blanton's emotions boiled over in his last start. He raged against an innocent Gatorade cooler in Sunday's 4-3 loss to Seattle, and he also had a verbal altercation with pitching coach Mike Butcher. The 2008 season must seem like a long time ago to Blanton, who helped the Philadelphia Phillies win the World Series that year.

"Any time things aren't going well, it kind of brings everything to a little volcano or whatever you want to call it," he told the Los Angeles Times. "It's a long season. You're out there competing. Things happen. Guys get mad for giving up runs, for striking out, for a ton of different reasons. That's part of it sometimes."

It's worth noting that eight other pitchers have double-digit losses, including reigning NL Cy Young Award winner R.A. Dickey (8-10, 4.69 ERA with Toronto). Also, Maroth pitched for one of the worst teams in baseball history, as the 2003 Tigers (43-119) set an AL record for losses.